Monday, February 20, 2012

This oft reviewed wine is always a decent bargain with some years better than others. This This lightly tinged Rhone Valley blend is Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc, and Roussanne grapes.

The bouquet is filled with tropical fruit with emphasis on ripe pineapple and a touch of lemon curd.

Palate--Tasty, dry, fruity melange of the fruits above and more. A nice acidic base makes it a good food wine but is fruity enough to se3rve chilled as an aperitif.

This is generally available for around $7and frankly, at this age I didn't expect it to be holding as well as it is. But it is drinking perfectly now and at this price point is a great buy. I will use a cup of it in my risotto tonight, and will be serving braised smoked pork hocks with the risotto. However I will pair a Sicilian Nero D'Avola with the meal. Raise a glass!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Tyrell's Wines produces this screw cap finished wine which is bricking (means it has a re-brown color to it, with coffe in the nose. Very unusual...Palate--Old wine flavors, subdued red fruit, lingering stewed fruit finish. Clearly over the hill.

The reason I blogged this is precisely because it is a crew cap and not a cork. This is pretty much whatyou might expect of a "corked" wine and yet this is not closed with a cork.

At 4 years old, this wine should not be drinking this way. Something happened in the process of bottling that oxidized this. So make sure you note that even with a screw cap, wine can be ruined elsewhwere in the process!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Pomegranate, lots of spice, and some resinous notes on the long finish

Summary:

Rich and spicy with a long finish, this Spanish red offers a lot of character at a bargain price. At $15 or so, this wine is a great value and a demonstration of well integrated oak and spice unlike the wine reviewed below.

I planned to buy more, but am having trouble finding it. Obviously I wasn't the only one who enjoyed this wine. From the Montsant region of Spain, it's made from Grenache, Carignane, and Syrah. If your wine merchant still has some, grab it. Pair with an assortment of tapas- and raise a glass!

I had a chance to try this wine a second time as I study the red wines of Spain. Once again, I'm disappointed with this wine after reading a good review highlighting its full flavor and value price. At $12 or so it's not expensive, but there are many other wines from Spain in this price point I'd reach for instead.

The problem with this wine that I mentioned last month is that it's over oaked which masks the real fruit character. This isn't often a problem with Tempranillo from Spain, but I can see it creeping onto the scene as winemakers try to cater to an international style of oak accents with their base level wines. Tempranillo is grown all over Spain and produces a variety of styles, but I've learned you need to be choosy in the value category. Especially lately. Raise a glass of something else!

I like this wine because it's rustic and charming. It has a nice mix of fruit and savory qualities that typifies Sangiovese-based Tuscan reds from Italy. It's also a great bargain at $13. Serve with pasta bolognese- and raise a glass!

This wine is remarkably good every year, and the 2009 has it all. It combines richness and ripe fruit with a spicy character that's neither heavy or too sweet. For Zinfandel fans, here's a benchmark wine priced at $22 or so. A classic food pairing is barbecue, but don't be afraid to serve this with a variety of dishes. Raise a glass!

Fragrant aromas of strawberry and raspberry on the nose with resinous notes

Full bodied and dense on the palate

Long finish of plum, leather, and spice

Summary:

This Rioja is aging beautifully. It tastes great now but could likely last a long time. It's packed with flavor, has good acidity, and a resinous streak suggesting the integration of oak.

The 2001 label is shown above, but is identical to the 2004 in this review. Made from 85% Tempranillo along with Graciano and Mazeuela, it's a Spanish wine worth looking around for. Lesser known that the flagship Cune Imperial, it's priced right at $36. Serve with short ribs and raise a glass!

Monday, February 06, 2012

Deeply pigmented black cherry hue to the rim with a bouquet of Sangiovese fruit but a somewhat sweeter impression. Sweet cherry is what you get from a distance with slight tobacco and dark berry notes.